Publications

Report on Experiences and Opportunities for Coordinated Operating Rules and Cooperation Arrangements on Dam Operations

(i.e. This Annual Mekong Flood Report 2015 discusses lessons learned

The report highlights beneficial opportunities for coordinated water
infrastructure operation mechanisms across the cooperation continuum – from coordination (information sharing) through collaboration (adaptation of operations) to joint action
(mutually advantageous planning, design and operations). It provides recommended actions and a forward plan to develop: “Coordinated water infrastructure operation mechanisms for multiple benefits, including gender and vulnerability-sensitive disaster mitigation and management”, as set out in the MRC Strategic Plan 2021–2025.

Download | DOI: 10.52107/mrc.b193up | Published on: 27 Feb 2023 | Language: English

Fish-Friendly Irrigation: Guidelines to Prioritising Fish Passage Barriers in the Lower Mekong River Basin (Laotian)

The ‘Guidelines to Prioritizing Fish Passage Barriers’ provides a concise method to identify the highest priority barriers for installing fishways on irrigation facilities in a selected catchment. The method is based on physical, biological and socio-economic considerations, and uses remote sensing tools and analysis to assess and rank large numbers of barriers.

Download | DOI: 10.52107/mrc.bhronn | Published on: 27 Feb 2023 | Language: Lao

Fish-Friendly Irrigation: Guideline on Fishway Design, Construction, Operation, Maintenance and Adjustment (Laotian)

The ‘Guidelines on Fishway Design, Construction, Operation, Maintenance and Adjustment’ describes design principles and key design criteria when installing fishways on irrigation facilities as well as common mistakes in design. In addition, the Guideline describes the processes and key considerations on construction, operation, maintenance, and adjustment of fishway.

Download | DOI: 10.52107/mrc.bh3i8k | Published on: 27 Feb 2023 | Language: Lao

Guidelines for Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment in the Lower Mekong River Basin (TbEIA)

The Guidelines for Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment in the Lower Mekong River Basin (TbEIA) is designed as a flexible document with perspective of its further elaboration based on gradually accumulated experience of Member Countries with a TbEIA application. It is also designed as a supporting tool applicable with respect to the different national EIA legislation systems in Member Countries. It builds on and supplements five MRC procedures, including the Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement; Procedures for Data and Information Exchange and Sharing; Procedures for Water Use Monitoring; Procedures for Maintenance of Flows on the Mainstream, and Procedures for Water Quality in addressing potential transboundary environmental impacts of development projects.

Download | DOI: 10.52107/mrc.aqrsbk | Published on: 20 Feb 2023 | Language: English

Preliminary Design Guidance for Proposed Mainstream Dams in the Lower Mekong River Basin (PDG)

The new Preliminary Design Guidance is an updated version of the original PDG introduced in 2009. It incorporates not only what the MRC Member Countries have learnt from their own experience with hydropower, but also from examples and best practices around the world. It also includes the most current knowledge regarding design criteria, science and technology. While the older PDG spanned this range of construction and operation elements (hydraulics; sediment transport; geomorphology; water quality; aquatic ecology; fish and fisheries; dam safety; and navigation), the new PDG now includes hydrology and socio-economic impact to reflect the greater attention paid today to riparian communities and riverine livelihoods.

Download | DOI: 10.52107/mrc.ajutqi | Published on: 20 Feb 2023 | Language: English

Handbook on Mainstreaming Gender into the Mekong River Commission’s Core Functions and Activities: A Guidebook for a Gender-Responsive and Resilient Lower Mekong River Basin

The Handbook for Gender Mainstreaming into the MRC Core Functions and Activities offers a supporting tool – or a guiding note – to assist the MRC to effectively integrate a gender perspective into all aspects of its work, from the development, update and application of strategic tools, procedures, normative guidelines, studies, and organizational strengthening to designing and advocating for joint actions. It also provides a working aid to integrate gender perspectives during the course of the BDS 2021–2030 and SP 2021-2025 implementation, and beyond

Download | DOI: 10.52107/mrc.ajutqn | Published on: 30 Dec 2022 | Language: English

Sustainable Hydropower Development Strategy: A Basin-wide Strategy for a Changing Mekong River Basin

The Sustainable Hydropower Development Strategy 2021 presents the MRC’s approach toward mega infrastructure project development including hydropower projects in the Lower Mekong River Basin. It provide a framework for how to “avoid, minimize and mitigate” the transboundary impact of hydropower projects. It defines three strategic areas for the MRC to work on: Consideration of Integrated Water Use, Environmental and Socio-economic Factors; Efficient Hydropower Generation and Distribution Mechanisms; and finally, Information System and Capacity Building.

Download | DOI: 10.52107/mrc.ajutpe | Published on: 20 Jun 2022 | Language: English

Situation Report on Dry Season Hydrological Conditions in the Lower Mekong River Basin: November 2020–May 2021

This Situation Report presents a preliminary analysis of the Lower Mekong River Basin hydro-meteorological conditions over the 2020–2021 dry season. It shows fluctuations in water levels in the upper reaches of the Mekong mainstream in Lao PDR and Thailand, as well as low water volume stored in the Tonle Sap Lake. Rainfall in April–May was the highest on record for these months for the last 18 years in places. Overall, flows in the Mekong in the first five months of 2021 were also higher than the long-term average, except for December 2020 where flows in the Mekong mainstream were closer to normal. But river flows did not increase significantly.

Download | DOI: 10.52107/mrc.qx5yo1 | Published on: 30 Jun 2021 | Language: English

Mekong Strategy for Basin-wide Environmental Management for Environmental Assets of Regional Importance 2021–2025

The Mekong Strategy for Basin-wide Environmental Management for Environmental Assets of Regional Importance (SBEM) is a cooperative regional strategy to protect environmental and ecological assets, including those providing ecosystem services in the basin. It provides an opportunity to implement a cooperative strategy where capacity can be built, and best management practices and information can be shared. Ultimately, the SBEM will establish a permanent regional network of environmental assets of regional importance within the LMB, which will be protected and managed for generations to come.

Download | DOI: 10.52107/mrc.ajutqu | Published on: 21 Jun 2021 | Language: English

Project-based Action Plan for Implementing the Strategy for Basin-wide Environmental Management for Environmental Assets of Regional Importance 2021–2025

This report provides practical guidance to Member Countries and partners on implementing the strategic priorities and actions of the Strategy for Basin-wide Environmental Management through a coordinated approach. It describes a set of 13 projects forming a coherent work programme across the 12 priority environmental assets of regional importance. The report includes a sustainable funding strategy for Member Countries and the MRC to pursue, an outline of the governance, roles and responsibilities, risk management and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements.

Download | DOI: 10.52107/mrc.qx5ynx | Published on: 21 Jun 2021 | Language: English

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